Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique Shops 2024

[Aragorn243]

Rain and yard sales simply don't mix. Went to three different neighborhood sales and very few people out, everything packed into the garage. I noticed some Woodland BDU uniforms in a box that were very small and the fellow said they were his wifes. So I asked if he had any other military items and he said just this NBC bag which i had completely discounted as it did not look like any US issue material I've seen. But it WAS. It is an NBC MOPP suit carrying bag. Never knew they existed. We just packed ours in the duffle bag. It was a dollar so I bought it as a curiosity more than anything.

[Aragorn243]

My big purchase of the weekend. A whistle I'm not positive is military issue or from what time period it is from. I've seen anywhere from WWI to WWII suggested. It is brass and I know the US Army was issuing green plastic whistles in 1943 so it is possible for either. Markings suggest military use but just not sure. At $5, it was worth the risk.







Also shown is the MOPP carry bag I got yesterday. I'm not sure how you carry it. It has straps which could go over the shoulders or attach to a pack but the hooks run in the opposite direction.







All in all today I had a very good day, just not military. First two antique flea markets were a complete bust. There is a small antique center that has maybe a dozen dealers outside and I sometimes stop and did so today because I still hadn't found anything. My first stop the guy had a Hubley dump truck. This is a local toy company so their items generally bring top dollar in the area. So I asked how much and he said everything on the table was $1. I couldn't believe it. So I looked closer at the table. A Corgi tractor harvester in very good condition, two plastic toy figures from a comic strip that I remembered as a kid, I even had the small one at one time, and a played with Ertl backhoe, still worth a buck for my grandson to play with. I got the whistle from another vender and also an HO caboose for $1 from a third vendor. eBay check when I got home, two figures $25 for the pair, they are from 1969, Pogo is I think the lead character, the other fellow is Albert the Aligator. The Hubley dump Truck is $20 and the Corgi was $98 in similar condition.

[Flying10uk]

I wonder if the whistle is intended for aircrew? I know the RAF used similar whistles but I haven't seen anything to confirm that any RAF aircrew issued whistles were US made. Lots of items were made in the UK and US.


Acme Thunderer 60.5 Air Ministry Whistle | Buy Whistles Online

[Aragorn243]

This is a standard US type whistle. It's the type everyone thinks of in the US when they hear whistle so it could be used by anyone. Police, MP's, officers, drill sergeants, air crews, Boy Scouts, hunters. My grandfather had one similar to this which annoyed my Dad and Uncle to no end signaling in the woods. I had one as a kid, probably still have it somewhere only it's chromed. I remember wanting is pretty bad but don't recall why, probably just to make noise. While I've seen the thin round types more commonly associated with the British shown to be US issue in WWI, these were probably acquired from the British companies that made them.

[Flying10uk]

This is a standard US type whistle.

But it is also the type/style of whistle use by the RAF for aircrew, that was the point that I was making.

The other style of whistle that you mention, the long thin round type, was used by just about everyone else, army, police, civil defence.